Amid inflation and international tensions, Americans are prioritizing trips closer to home this year, according to recent data from the . Domestic tourism is forecast to generate $1.2 trillion this year, about 87% of projected travel spending in 2026.
So where are summer vacationers headed? Based on search history, . Coastal getaways and major metropolises dominate the list, which includes the cultural capital of the Pacific Northwest region: Seattle, Washington.
Similar to Denver, this destination offers urban attractions alongside easy access to outdoor recreation — though, with the bordering Puget Sound, far more activities take place on the water in “Mother Nature’s City.”
Seattle earned this nickname not only for its proximity to parks and green spaces, but for its commitment to sustainability. Hydropower supplies more than 90 percent of local electricity, single-use plastic bags and utensils are banned, and the city nearly doubles the national recycling average. Zero-emission vehicles make up the primary public transit system and also provide ground support at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Want to see for yourself? Several major airlines provide direct flights from Denver International Airport, meaning eco-friendly and fresh things to do in Seattle are just three quick hours away. Here are some of our picks.
Outdoor experiences in and around Seattle
Seattle dedicates about 12% of its land area to outdoor recreation, with more than 485 parks across the city. One of the most notable additions, debuting last fall, is the 20-acre , running from Railroad Way South in Pioneer Square to Pier 62 and connecting several of the city’s top sites, including the Seattle Aquarium and Pike Place Market
Further inland, explores the freshwater bays of Lake Union and Lake Washington. These unique vessels launched last year, offering guided voyages to private and communal groups of up to six guests. Admire expansive views as you sweat in the wood-fired sauna, then dip beneath the on-board bucket shower — or for a true cold plunge, jump off the upper deck into the frigid lake. Non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary, and there’s plenty of lounge seating on board.
While Wild Haus is reserved for those 13 and up, the entire family can enjoy a trip to Woodland Park Zoo. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, this conservation-minded attraction helps restore populations of threatened species, helps preserve critical wildlife habitats and educates more than 1.3 million visitors each year.
One of its key initiatives involves working alongside rural Papua New Guinea communities to protect endangered Matschie’s tree kangaroos, which, for the first time in a decade, can be seen at the zoo.
Watch these furry marsupials climb the leafy canopy in the new Forest Trailhead exhibit featuring an elevated open-air pathway and several other animals, such as red pandas, kea parrots, colorful amphibians and reptiles.
While there are plenty of ways to get outdoors in the city, day trips provide even more variety. Cross a classic Washington experience off your bucket list with Forage Seattle, a local guide company that hosts mushroom foraging and seafood gathering tours.
The latter can be booked alongside a tide-to-table feast including wine pairings and three delicious courses starring shellfish and seared salmon. Groups then pull on rubber boots and get their hands dirty, learning to dig for clams and shucking fresh, raw oysters harvested directly from the beach.
Sustainable dining in the Seattle area
Though foraging may be fun, you don’t have to work hard to score fresh seafood in Seattle. Famous for its fish-throwing spectacle, refers to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program when sourcing its selection featuring salmon, halibut and wild-caught crab legs.
Pike Place Chowder, another popular market vendor, exclusively uses certified sustainable catches in its creamy chowders and seafood rolls. It also relies on many local ingredients, such as sourdough from a nearby bakery and dairy from the neighboring city of Kent.
is another nearby community thatap particularly known for its wineries and tasting rooms. With more than 130 options, visitors may be overwhelmed — but Sustainable Washington-certified operations are a good place to start.
This includes Bayermoor Cellars, a midsize winery offering an award-winning collection of pinot noir wines from its Woodinville tasting room. The grapes are grown less than an hour north at its six-acre vineyard, which implements regenerative agriculture methods among other eco-conscious practices.
Sample more Washington wines at , a fine dining hotspot helmed by co-owner Johnny Courtney, one of this year’s James Beard Award finalists for Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific. His restaurant creatively captures the seasonal flavors of the region through partnerships with more than 30 Washington farms.
Start your meal with its signature rosette cookie, a fried batter blossom filled with soft cheese and Walla Walla onion jam. The radish cake spotlights another local specialty: geoduck, a large clam native to the PNW. The current menu also features a Dungeness crab tostada, spiced maitake mushrooms and more upscale fare.
Eco-conscious stays in Seattle
Salt Harvest is another sustainable dining destination thatap ideal for special occasions. Made with local ingredients from regenerative and organic farms, its regionally inspired dishes are served within Populus Seattle — which, unlike the newish Denver version, isn’t shaped like an aspen tree.
Rather, this new Michelin One Key hotel in historic Pioneer Square houses 120 rooms inside a century-old brick building. To connect guests with the outdoors, countless live potted plants decorate the lobby, rooftop bar and soundproofed library, which offers a catalog of books on nature and biophilic architecture.
Populus operates entirely on renewable electricity and, perhaps most notably, it plants a tree for every night a guest stays. This initiative is shared with the Denver location, and together, they’ve helped more than 34,000 trees take root.
On the north edge of downtown, 1 Hotel Seattle offers tourists another eco-conscious place to stay. Last year, the LEED-certified property completed a $35 million overhaul and managed to divert 75 percent of its construction waste from landfills.
Reclaimed timber, reusable water bottles and sustainable linens appear within its 153 renovated rooms and suites. Each also features a large soaking tub, a walk-in rain shower and refillable bath amenities.
If you’re struggling to zip your suitcase on the morning of checkout, leave a couple of pieces behind. Through the hotel’s 1 Less Thing program, secondhand clothing is donated to its local charity partner.
